Animal trap



May 16, 1944. c. WJCRUMRINE 2,348,729

ANIMAL TRAP w Filed April 25, 1943 Patented May 16, 1944 ANIMAL TRAP Chester W. Crumrine, Irondequoit Township, Monroe County, N. Y.

Application April 23, 1943, Serial No. 484,185

12 Claims.

This invention relates to animal traps and par.- ticularly to automatic traps which are especially useful in the extermination of rodents.

Many prior art attempts have been made to provide trap devices with means for automatically resetting traps after an animal has been caught, as well as for removing the body of the animal from the region where it is initially trapped. The most frequently occurring of these prior devices depend generally upon the volition of the animal for movement from an initial zone, either under the urge of curiosity or in an endeavor to escape from the trap. According to the principles of the present invention the movements of the trapped animal after his initial entry into the trapping zone are fully controlled by the trapping means and are not dependent in any manner on voluntary action of the animal.

As will be seen from the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the mere presence of an animal at a predetermined point in a trapping zone initiates a cycle of operation which includes positively and forcibly moving the anima1 to a confined area where he is electrocuted, following which the body of the animal is automatically moved to afurther zone to free the electrocution area for subsequent use on another animal. Immediately following the electrocution phase of the cycle of operation and as a part of the operation of removing the animal from the electrocution area thel animal moving instrumentalities are automatically con-- ditioned for forcibly moving another animal to the electrocution area upon entry of such other animal into the trapping zone.

The entire cycle of operation is short in dura- "tion and traps constructed according to the present invention are able to deal with conditions such as are encountered in highly infested areas. Extermination on a wholesale scale may be efficiently practiced.

The present invention is further characterized by the fact that theinitial impulse which begins the trapping operation is of such nature as not .to excite the suspicion of the animal and the sucillustrated in the drawing and described herein by way of example, it is to be understood that the broad principles of the invention are not limited thereto or otherwise than as defined in the appended claims. For instance, in place of the wire, cord or the like against which the animal impinges to initiate trap operation, there may be substituted any known means for closing an electric trap operating circuit by reason of the presence of an animal to be trapped.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention with a front casing wall thereof broken away to depict the interior arrangement of the device;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken approximately on the line II-II of Fig. 1; and Y Fig. `3 is a schematic view of the electrocution portion of the device including a wiring diagram illustrating the electrical relationship of the operating parts of the trap.

In the several figures of the drawing like characters of reference denote like parts and the numeral I0 designates generally a', box-like casing having a bottom wall II; front and rear walls I2 and I3, respectively; side Walls I4`and I5; and a top closure wall I6 hinged to the side wall I4 as at Il. It will be noted that av portion of the bottom wall II is broken away to form a passageway I9, Fig. 1, and this clear passageway extends entirely from the front wall I2 to the rear Wall I3, there being entranceways formed in these two Walls at each end of the passageway I9. 'I'he entranceways in the walls I2 and I3 are designated 2I and 22 respectively and cooperate with the passageway I9 to provide a clear and generally uninterrupted zone which forms a mere continuation of the oor or other surface upon which the trap may be resting. It is during the passage of an animal through this zone that its freedom is abruptly arrested and the entire trapping and disposing cycle is begun and automatically continued to completion.

A fine cord or strand of wire 25 extends across the 'passage I9, preferably about centrally thereof, its one end being anchored to side wall I5 asl at 26 and its other end secured to the movable contact element of a normally open electric switch 2l. The cord 25 is disposed at a height at which it is best calculated to be impinged against by an animal attempting to traverse the passageway I9 and its initial tension and the tension of the switch contact member are so proportioned that extremely light pressure against the cord I9 suf` flces to momentarily close the switch 21. Such closure institutes a cycle of operation which comprises successively removing the animal forcibly from the passageway I9, electrocuting the animal, and further moving the animal body either to a final receiving zone or to a point outside of the trap proper.

The mechanical means for effecting these ends will be first described, following which the electric circuits for effecting automatic operation will be described in conjunction with a consideration of Fig. 3. With the parts in the initial position illustrated in Figs. l and 2 the sides of the passageway I9 are defined by a pair of substantially vertical plate-like means 30 and 3l, the former of which functions as an animal-impelling member and to that end is suspended from a pivot rod 32 by arms 33 and 34. The otherl plate means 3! comprises a pair of spaced plate portions which are secured at their lower-edges to a hinge rod 35 which is pivotally supported between the front and` rear walls I2 and I3, whereby the plate portions are movable through the path indicated by the dot and dash arc, movement in a counter-clockwise direction being limited by stops 36. The space between the plate portions 3I accommodates the cord 25 and also certain other linkage, as will presently appear.

A third cooperating swinging assembly carries electrocuting means and comprises a pair of platform elements 38 carried by a frame 39 which has a hinge portion 40 pivotally supported against side wall I5. The platform elements 38 are spaced longitudinally in the same manner and for the same purpose as the plate portions 3|.

The means 30 and 3l and the platform elements 38 are all connected for synchronous swinging movement. The pivot rod 32 has a crank 42 formed therein and the hinge portion 46 of the platform elements 38 has a crank 43 formed therein. A link 44 connects pivotally with the cranks 42 and 43 at its opposite ends. A second crank 46 is formed in the hinge portion 4D and a similar crank 41 is formed in the hinge rod 35, the cranks 46 and 41 being connected by a link 48.

The animal impelling element 30 is normally held in operative but preset position, that being the position indicatedin full lines in the drawing, by spring-pressed detent pins l) which engage seat elements 5I secured to the front and rear walls I2 and I3 of the device. By reason of the link connections 44 and 48 the detent 50, 5I normally retains all of the various swinging elements in their illustrated position.

The primary moving means for the swinging elements are electromagnets 53 and 54 whose armatures 55 and 56 move, respectively, to swing the animal impelling element 30 across the passageway I9 in opposite directions. The electromagnet 53 is energized to attract the armature 55 during an animal trap operation and the electromagnet 54 subsequently is energized to attract the.armature 56 for resetting the trap.

Both of the armatures 55 and 56 are connected with a crank 58 formed on the pivot rod 32 by means of extension coil springs 60 and 6I, respectively. The presence of the spring 60 permits the armature 55 to have a certain initial movement independently of the crank 58 whereby energy is stored in the spring 55 until the animal moving member 30 is freed from the detent 50, 5I, thereby affording an increased moving force for more quickly overcoming the inertia of the several swinging parts and insuring a quick animal impelling movement of the member 30. The spring 60 stores energy at the beginning of the cycle, when the attractive force of the magnet has not reached maximurn and the effect on the armature is low by reason of the relative remoteness of the latter. When. the stored energy is suflicient to free the parts from the detent 58, 5I the stored energy plus the full force of the electromagnet move the element swiftly across the passageway I9.

Simultaneously with this movement of the member 30, the plate means 3I moves to the right about its hinge rod to a horizontal position where it forms in effect a continuation of the bottom wall II. At the same time the platform elements 38 move downwardly to a position where they immediately overlie the plate portions 3I. A pair of longitudinally spaced panels 64 are fixed to the frame 39 at such an angle that when the platform 38 has been lowered, the panels 64 and the animal impelling member 30, cooperate to form a confined space about the electrocuting platform 38.

Movement of the parts to the position just described automatically closes a circuit which energizes electrodes associated with the platform 38 in a manner which will presently appear, and such energization is maintained for a predetermined period of time, whereupon the electro-outing circuit is automatically broken and the various parts are simultaneously returned to their illustrated positions. This return movement projects the animal clear of the device through an opening 66, formed in one of the side walls I5. A horizontal panel member 51 confines the animal body for arcuate movement with the platform elements 38 during this phase of the operation. The return movement just alluded to is effected by energization of the electromagnet 54 and the electrical circuits for accomplishing the automatic mechanical operation described above will now be described.

The numerals 16 and 1I designate the conductors of a supply circuit for energizing the electromagnets 53 and 54 and the electrocution elec. trodes. One branch circuit 12 includes in series the electromagnet 53 andthe primary Winding of a transformer designated generally 13. The secondary winding of the transformer 13 is in circuit with a pair of electrodes 14 and 15 which are bridged by an animal on the platform 38 for electrocution of the animal. The branch circuit 12 has a shunt circuit 15 which includes the switch 21 which initiates trap operation and the switch 21 is adapted to initially close a circuit through the electromagnet 53 and the transformer 13. Such closure likewise energizes a holding coil 11, the core of which attracts and closes a switch 18 in the circuit 12 proper, whereby the circuit 12 is closed and remains closed even though the closure of the switch 21 is momentary.

The circuit 12 thus. remains closed until it; is opened by operation of a thermal time-delay switch 80. The switch is designed to permit the circuit 12 to remain closed a sufficient length of time to insure electrocution of the animal. When the time-delay switch 8l) opens, the holding coil 11 is deenergized and a spring 8I aufnmatically opens the switch 18 and simultaneously closes a switch 82 which is disposed in a circuit 83 which includes and energizes the Winding of the electromagnet 54. This quickly and neously moving said forcibly restores the parts to their illustrated position, where they are detained by the detent To deenergize the entire device during periods between trapping operations, the circuit 83 lnoludes a switch `84 which is biased to closed position but is forcibly opened by movement of the arms 33, 34 to their illustrated position.

I claim:

1`. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a member movable across said passageway to impel an 'animal to a position adjacent said passageway, an electrocuting platform movable to a position adjacent said passageway for receiving an animal body thereon, common operating means' for simultamember and said platform to impel and receive an animal respectively, and time delay means for returning said member to initial position and for simultaneously moving said platform to discharge an electrocuted animal therefrom.

2. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a member movable across said passageway toimpel an animal to a position adjacent' said passageway, an electrocuting platform movable to a position adjacent said passageway for receiving an animal body thereon, electromotive means for simultaneously moving said member and said platform to impel and receive an animal respectively, an operating circuit for said electromotive means and means for closing said circuit by and upon presence of an animal in said passageway, and time delay means forv returning said member to initial position and `for simultaneously moving said platform to discharge an electrocuted animal therefrom.

3. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a member movable across said passageway to `impel an animal to a position adjacent said passageway, an electrocuting platform movable to a position adjacent said passageway and adjacent the bottom of said casing for receiving an animal body thereon, common operating means for simultaneously moving said member and said platform to impel and receive an animal respectively, and time .delay means for returning said member to initial position and for simultaneously moving said platform away from said passageway to discharge an electrocuted animal therefrom.

4. An lanimal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a member movable across said passageway to impel an animal to a position adjacent said passageway, an electrocuting platform movable to a position adjacent said passageway for receiving an animal body thereon, common operating means `for simultaneously moving said member and said platform y to impel and receive an animal respectively, time delay means for returning said member to initial position and for simultaneously moving said platform to discharge an electrocuted animal therefrom, means extending across said passageway and engageable by an animal traversing the passageway, and electrical means for actuating said common operating means, said electrical means being rendered elective by displacement of the means extending across the passageway.

5. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a pair of members dening opposite side walls of said passageway,

one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other in a trapping operation, said other member being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent its lower portion and being connected with the first-mentioned member whereby trapping movement of the first-mentioned member causes said other member to fall pivotally away from its wall defining position, and an electrocuting platform mounted for downward movement simultaneously with the trapping movement of said first-mentioned member to overlie said other member and receive an animal trapped by said first-mentioned member.

6. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a pair of members defining opposite side walls of said passageway, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other in a trapping operation, said other member being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent its lower portion and being connected with the rst-mentioned member whereby trapping movement tioned member causes said other member to fall pivotally away from its wall defining position, and an electrocuting platform movable simultaneously with the trapping movement of said rstmentioned vmember to overlie said other member and receive an animaltrapped by said rst-mentioned member. 7. An animal trap comprising a casing anda passageway therethrough, a pair of members dening opposite side walls of said passageway, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other ,in a trapping operation, said other member being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent its lower portion and being connected with the first-mentioned member whereby trapping movement of the firstmentioned member causes said other member to fall pivotally away from its wall defining position, an electrocuting'platform movable simultaneously with the trapping movement of said first-mentioned member*` to overlie said other member and receive an animal trapped by said first-mentioned member,- and time delay means for simultaneously restoring; both members and said platform to initial pre-set position.

8. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a *pair of members defining opposite side walls of'isaid passageway, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other; in=a trapping operation, said other member being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent its lower portion and being connected with the first-mentioned member whereby trapping movement of the rstmentioned member causes said other member to fall pivotally away from its wallV dening position, an electrocuting platform movable simultaneously with the trapping movement of said first-mentioned member to overlie said other member and receive an animal trapped by said first-mentioned member, and time delay means for simultaneously restoring both members and said platform to initial pre-set position, said platform being arranged to discharge an'animal body disposed thereon by and upon restoring movement thereof. i

9. An animal trap comprising a casing and passageway therethrough, a pair of members defining opposite side walls of said passageway, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other member in a trapping operation, said other member being connected for simultaneous movement away from its wall delning position to permit movement of an anisaid passageway by said first member,

mal from an electrocuting platform movable to a position adjacent said passageway for receiving an animal body thereon, and common operating means whereby said platform is moved to animal receiving position simultaneously with movement of said first member to move an animal from said passageway.

10. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a pair of members delining opposite side walls of said passageways, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other member in a trapping operation, said other member being connected for simultaneous movement away from its wall dening position to permit movement of an animal from said passageway by said first member, an electrocuting platform movable to a position adjacent said passageway for receiving an animal body thereon, and common operating means whereby said platform is moved to animal receiving position simultaneously with movement of said first member to move an animal from said passageway, and time delay means for simultaneously restoring both members and said platform to initial pre-set position.

1l. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a pair of members defining opposite side walls of said passageway, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other member in a trapping operation, said other member being conmember and receive an animal nectedior simultaneous movement away from its wall denning position to permit movement of an animal from said passageway by said first member, an electrocuting platfom movable to a position adjacent said passageway for receiving an animal body thereon, and common operating means whereby said platform is moved to animal receiving position simultaneously with movement of said first member to move an animal from said passageway, and time delay means for simultaneously restoring both members and said platform to initial pre-set position, said platform being arranged to discharge an animal body disposed thereon by and upon restoring movement thereof.

l2. An animal trap comprising a casing and a passageway therethrough, a pair of members dening opposite side walls of said passageway, one of said members being movable across the passageway toward the other in a trapping operation, said other member being mounted for pivotal movement adjacent its lower portion to fall pivotally away from its wall defining position, an electrocuting platform movabler simultaneously with said other member to overlie said other trapped by said first member, and time delay means for simultaneously restoring both'members and said platform to initial pre-set position.

CHESTER W. CRUMRINE. 

